(19)
(11) EP 0 481 285 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
12.08.1992 Bulletin 1992/33

(43) Date of publication A2:
22.04.1992 Bulletin 1992/17

(21) Application number: 91116791.4

(22) Date of filing: 01.10.1991
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: F16K 11/085
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB

(30) Priority: 17.10.1990 US 599330

(71) Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Company
Palo Alto, California 94304 (US)

(72) Inventor:
  • Fogelman, Kimber D.
    Newark, DE 19711 (US)

(74) Representative: Liesegang, Roland, Dr.-Ing. et al
FORRESTER & BOEHMERT Franz-Joseph-Strasse 38
80801 München
80801 München (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Apparatus for multi-path flow regulation


    (57) Valve assemblies are provided which comprise a housing (10) having a common port (14) and n peripheral ports (13) where n is an even integer greater than or equal to 4. The valve assemblies further comprise a valve plug (20) contained within the housing. The valve plug comprises a distribution channel (24) capable of fluid communication with the common port and at least one of the peripheral ports, and (n/2)-1 switching channels (26) capable of fluid communication with at least two of the peripheral ports.






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